Lee Janzen
Encyclopedia
Lee McLeod Janzen is an American
golf
er who is best known for twice winning the U.S. Open
, in 1993 and 1998.
, Minnesota
, and spent most of his childhood in Baltimore, Maryland
, where he played Little League
baseball
. When Janzen was 12, his father's company transferred him to Florida
and his parents started him in golf
and tennis
, and he continued playing baseball. Janzen liked golf best and started playing that sport exclusively. He won his first tournament at age 15 as a member of the Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association.
Janzen chose to attend a small college – Florida Southern
– rather than a big institution like Florida
. In 1985 and 1986, Florida Southern won the Division II national team championship
. Janzen was the individual medalist in 1986. He turned professional later that same year.
, most notably the 1993 and 1998 U.S. Open
s. In 1993, Janzen defeated Payne Stewart
at Baltusrol
in Springfield
, New Jersey
, en route to tying the 72-hole U.S. Open scoring record of 8-under par. Five years later, he again beat out Stewart to win his second U.S. Open, this time at the Olympic Club
in San Francisco. He overcame a five stroke deficit on Sunday, marking the best final-round comeback in a U.S. Open
since 1973.
Janzen also notched a victory at The Players Championship
in 1995. The Players is a premiere event on the PGA Tour, unofficially known as the "fifth major," and includes the largest purse of the season. He has been featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings
.
Janzen had several opportunities to win additional major golf championships. In 1996, he was in contention at both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship
before finishing in the top-10 in both events. He finished fourth at the 1997 PGA Championship
after sharing the 36-hole lead at Winged Foot
in Mamaroneck
, New York
.
Janzen also played on two American Ryder Cup
teams, in 1993 and 1997.
Janzen has lived in various places in Central Florida
since becoming a professional golfer
. He frequently speaks about his Christian beliefs.
PGA Tour playoff record (1-0)
DNP = did not play
CUT = missed the half way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er who is best known for twice winning the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
, in 1993 and 1998.
Early years and amateur career
Janzen was born in AustinAustin, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,314 people, 9,897 households, and 6,076 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,168.2 people per square mile . There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 954.3 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and spent most of his childhood in Baltimore, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, where he played Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. When Janzen was 12, his father's company transferred him to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and his parents started him in golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and he continued playing baseball. Janzen liked golf best and started playing that sport exclusively. He won his first tournament at age 15 as a member of the Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association.
Janzen chose to attend a small college – Florida Southern
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It was selected by U.S...
– rather than a big institution like Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. In 1985 and 1986, Florida Southern won the Division II national team championship
NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships
The NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships, played in late May, is an annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, but there is also an award for the lowest scoring individual competitor. Many of the individual champions have gone on to successful...
. Janzen was the individual medalist in 1986. He turned professional later that same year.
Professional career
In 1989, Janzen joined the PGA Tour. He has won eight times on the PGA TourPGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, most notably the 1993 and 1998 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
s. In 1993, Janzen defeated Payne Stewart
Payne Stewart
William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42....
at Baltusrol
Baltusrol Golf Club
The Baltusrol Golf Club is a private 36-hole golf club located in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey. Among the many prestigious tournaments it has hosted, Baltusrol was most recently the site of the 2005 PGA Championship. The course architect is A. W...
in Springfield
Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey
Township of Springfield is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population increased to a record high of 15,817....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, en route to tying the 72-hole U.S. Open scoring record of 8-under par. Five years later, he again beat out Stewart to win his second U.S. Open, this time at the Olympic Club
Olympic Club
The Olympic Club is a San Francisco, California, athletic club and private social club with three golf courses located at San Francisco's border with Daly City, California. The club's main "City Clubhouse" is located in downtown San Francisco. The club's "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north...
in San Francisco. He overcame a five stroke deficit on Sunday, marking the best final-round comeback in a U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
since 1973.
Janzen also notched a victory at The Players Championship
The Players Championship
The Players Championship is an annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour.Originally known as the Tournament Players Championship, the inaugural event in 1974 was played at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia before moving to the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas in 1975 and Inverrary...
in 1995. The Players is a premiere event on the PGA Tour, unofficially known as the "fifth major," and includes the largest purse of the season. He has been featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings
Official World Golf Rankings
The Official World Golf Ranking is a system for rating the performance level of male professional golfers...
.
Janzen had several opportunities to win additional major golf championships. In 1996, he was in contention at both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship
1996 PGA Championship
The 1996 PGA Championship was the 78th PGA Championship held from August 8-11 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Mark Brooks won his first major championship with a birdie in a sudden death playoff over Kentucky native Kenny Perry.-First round:...
before finishing in the top-10 in both events. He finished fourth at the 1997 PGA Championship
1997 PGA Championship
The 1997 PGA Championship was the 79th PGA Championship held from August 14-17 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. Davis Love III won his first major championship by five strokes over 1997 Open Championship winner, Justin Leonard.-First round:...
after sharing the 36-hole lead at Winged Foot
Winged Foot Golf Club
Winged Foot Golf Club is a 36-hole golf course located in Mamaroneck, New York. The course architect is A. W. Tillinghast, who also designed Baltusrol , Bethpage Black, Shackamaxon Country Club, San Francisco Golf Club, Cedar Crest Park, and nearby Quaker Ridge Golf Club and Wykagyl Country Club...
in Mamaroneck
Mamaroneck (town), New York
Mamaroneck is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 29,156 at the 2010 census. There are two villages contained within the town: Larchmont and the Village of Mamaroneck...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Janzen also played on two American Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
teams, in 1993 and 1997.
Janzen has lived in various places in Central Florida
Central Florida
Central Florida is a regional designation for the area surrounding Orlando in east central Florida, United States. The area represents the third largest population concentration in Florida, after the South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, respectively....
since becoming a professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
. He frequently speaks about his Christian beliefs.
PGA Tour wins (8)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 16, 1992 1992 PGA Tour The 1992 PGA Tour season was played from January 9 to November 1. The season consisted of 44 official money events. John Cook, Fred Couples, and Davis Love III won the most tournaments, three, and there were four first-time winners... |
Northern Telecom Open | 1 stroke |  Bill BrittonBill Britton William Timothy Britton is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour for fifteen years during the 1980s and 1990s.... |
|
| 2 | Jan 31, 1993 1993 PGA Tour The 1993 PGA Tour season was played from January 7 to October 31. The season consisted of 43 official money events. Nick Price won the most tournaments, four, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
Phoenix Open | 2 strokes | Andrew Magee Andrew Magee Andrew Donald Magee is an American professional golfer who played for more than 20 years on the PGA Tour.Magee was born in Paris, France, where his father, a Texas oil man, was working at the time. He grew up in Dallas, Texas. Magee attended the University of Oklahoma from 1981–1984... |
|
| 3 | Jun 20, 1993 1993 PGA Tour The 1993 PGA Tour season was played from January 7 to October 31. The season consisted of 43 official money events. Nick Price won the most tournaments, four, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
2 strokes | Payne Stewart Payne Stewart William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42.... |
|
| 4 | Jun 12, 1994 1994 PGA Tour The 1994 PGA Tour season was played from January 6 to October 30. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Nick Price won the most tournaments, six, and there were 10 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The following... |
Buick Classic | 3 strokes |  Ernie ElsErnie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
|
| 5 | Mar 26, 1995 1995 PGA Tour The 1995 PGA Tour season was played from January 5 to October 29. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Lee Janzen and Greg Norman won the most tournaments, three, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament... |
The Players Championship The Players Championship The Players Championship is an annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour.Originally known as the Tournament Players Championship, the inaugural event in 1974 was played at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia before moving to the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas in 1975 and Inverrary... |
1 stroke |  Bernhard LangerBernhard Langer Bernhard Langer is a German professional golfer. He is a two-time Masters champion, and was one of the world's leading golfers throughout the 1980s and 90s, being the first official number one ranked player in 1986... |
|
| 6 | Jun 11, 1995 1995 PGA Tour The 1995 PGA Tour season was played from January 5 to October 29. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Lee Janzen and Greg Norman won the most tournaments, three, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament... |
Kemper Open | Playoff | Corey Pavin Corey Pavin Corey Allen Pavin is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He spent over 150 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1986 and 1997.-Biography:... |
|
| 7 | Aug 20, 1995 1995 PGA Tour The 1995 PGA Tour season was played from January 5 to October 29. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Lee Janzen and Greg Norman won the most tournaments, three, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament... |
Sprint International Sprint International Sprint International may refer to:* Sprint Corporation, telecommunications company* The International , golf tournament... |
1 point | Ernie Els Ernie Els Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Els is a South African professional golfer, who has been one of the top professional players in the world since the mid-1990s. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature along with his fluid, seemingly effortless golf swing... |
|
| 8 | Jun 21, 1998 1998 PGA Tour The 1998 PGA Tour season was played from January 8 to November 1. The season consisted of 45 official money events. David Duval won the most tournaments, four, and there were eight first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
1 stroke | Payne Stewart Payne Stewart William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42.... |
PGA Tour playoff record (1-0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995 1995 PGA Tour The 1995 PGA Tour season was played from January 5 to October 29. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Lee Janzen and Greg Norman won the most tournaments, three, and there were seven first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament... |
Kemper Open | Corey Pavin Corey Pavin Corey Allen Pavin is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He spent over 150 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1986 and 1997.-Biography:... |
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
Wins (2)
| Year | Championship | 54 Holes | Winning Score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
1 shot lead | |||
| 2 strokes | Payne Stewart Payne Stewart William Payne Stewart was an American professional golfer who won three majors in his career, the last of which occurred only months before he died in an airplane accident at the age of 42.... |
||||
| 1998 | U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... (2) |
5 shot deficit | E (73-66-73-68=280) | 1 strokes | Payne Stewart |
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | T54 | T39 | T30 | T12 | T12 | T26 | T33 | T14 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | CUT | CUT | 1 | CUT | T13 | T10 | T52 | 1 | T46 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | T39 | T48 | T35 | T24 | CUT | CUT | T24 | 70 |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | T21 | T22 | T66 | T23 | T8 | 4 | CUT | CUT |
| Tournament | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | CUT | T31 | CUT | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T37 | CUT | CUT | T55 | T24 | T57 | CUT | T13 | CUT |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
CUT | DNP | T80 | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
T19 | CUT | T53 | T34 | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP |
DNP = did not play
CUT = missed the half way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
United States national team appearances
- Ryder CupRyder CupThe Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
: 19931993 Ryder CupThe 30th Ryder Cup Matches were held at The Belfry in Wishaw, Warwickshire, England . The United States team won the competition by a margin of 15 to 13 points.-Format:...
(winners), 19971997 Ryder CupThe 32nd Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, Spain, marking the first time the event was contested in continental Europe.The European team won the competition by a margin of 14½ to 13½ and retained the Cup.... - Presidents CupPresidents CupThe Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world less Europe. Europe competes against the U.S. in a similar but considerably older event, the Ryder Cup. The Presidents Cup is held biennially...
: 19981998 Presidents CupInternational 20½ - United States 11½The 3rd Presidents Cup Matches were held in 1998 on December 11-13. They were played at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. The International team won the competition by a margin of 20½–11½. This was the first time the International team won... - Dunhill Cup: 1995